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Pleural abnormalities and exposure to elongate mineral particles in Minnesota iron ore (taconite) workers
Author(s) -
Perlman David,
Mandel Jeffrey H.,
Odo Nnaemeka,
Ryan Andy,
Lambert Christine,
MacLehose Richard F.,
Ramachandran Gurumurthy,
Alexander Bruce H.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22828
Subject(s) - medicine , amphibole , chest radiograph , asbestos , environmental health , occupational exposure , population , iron ore , pneumoconiosis , surgery , archaeology , metallurgy , pathology , radiography , history , materials science , quartz
Background Iron ore (taconite) mining and processing are an important industry in northern Minnesota and western Michigan. Concerns around exposures have centered largely on exposure to non‐asbestiform amphibole elongate mineral particles (EMPs) found in the eastern portion of the Minnesota iron range. Methods A cross sectional survey was undertaken of current and former taconite workers and spouses along with a detailed exposure assessment. Participants provided an occupational history and had a chest radiograph performed. Results A total of 1188 workers participated. Potential exposures to non‐amphibole EMPs were evident across multiple jobs in all active mines. Pleural abnormalities were found in 16.8% of workers. There was an association of pleural abnormalities with cumulative EMP exposure that was not specific to the eastern portion of the range. Conclusion There was evidence of a mild to moderate increase in pleural abnormalities in this population of miners, associated with geographically non‐specific cumulative EMP exposure.